Mueller plans to call 35 witnesses in Manafort trial

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s office said Friday it plans to call 35 witnesses in the upcoming trial of President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman.

The witnesses in the financial crimes case of New Britain native Paul Manafort include former accountants, assistants and even friends. Among them is Rick Gates, a former Manafort deputy who pleaded guilty in Mueller’s investigation earlier this year and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

Prosecutors on Mueller’s team filed the witness list Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va. Manafort’s trial begins there Tuesday with jury selection.

Manafort is accused of routing millions of dollars in proceeds from Ukrainian political consulting work into offshore accounts and using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Other witnesses include Tad Devine, a political consultant and strategist on Bernie Sanders’ Democratic presidential campaign — but also a participant in Manafort’s Ukrainian political work, helping refurbish the image of Ukraine’s disgraced former president Viktor Yanukovych.

Prosecutors plan to call Philip Ayliff, a longtime personal accountant for Manafort, and Wayne Holland, a real estate agent in Northern Virginia and a personal friend of Manafort.

The list includes Max Katzman, the son and business partner of one of Manafort’s several high-end tailors.